Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is the closest National Park to Crested Butte and Gunnison. This steep, scenic canyon was formed by the Gunnison River over the course of two million years. The Black Canyon earned its name from the shadows that often obscure its depths. At its narrowest point, it’s just 40 feet wide at the river. Because of how narrow it is, some parts of the canyon only receive about a half hour of daylight per day. The deepest part of the canyon is 2,722 feet. The canyon is composed of several types of ancient Precambrian gneiss. The distinctive walls of the Black Canyon are grayish-black with pink veins. Activities in Black Canyon National Park are mostly limited to sightseeing and walking. Adventurous travelers might opt for scrambling, rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, backpacking and fishing.

Where is the Black Canyon?

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison begins at Blue Mesa Dam, at the west end of Blue Mesa Reservoir. It extends fourteen miles northwest from there. There are two main access points to the park, the North Rim and the South Rim. The visitor center is located at the South Rim. The entrance to the South Rim is about 13 miles east of Montrose or 61 miles west of Gunnison on Highway 50.

Visit the Black Canyon National Park website

What is there to do at Black Canyon National Park?

Black Canyon National Park activities

The South Rim

From Highway 50, drive seven miles north on Highway 347 to get to the South Rim Visitor Center. In summer, drive the scenic South Rim road to access viewpoints, including Chasm View and the Painted Wall. There is one inner canyon scrambling route, the Gunnison Route, that requires a permit. There are also several short, non-technical hiking trails. There is one campground on the South Rim. During winter, the South Rim road is closed to vehicles and groomed for cross-country skiing.

Explore the South Rim

The East Portal

The East Portal is accessible by driving east on the East Portal Road from the South Rim park entrance. The road is paved, but very steep. There is a campground and two primitive trails to the bottom of the canyon. The section of the Gunnison River accessible from the East Portal is designated as gold medal trout fishing waters.

Explore the East Portal

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon is part of the inner Black Canyon, which is a designated Wilderness area. It is accessible from the southwest side of the South Rim. A permit is required to enter. From the parking lot, there is a 3.5-mile primitive trail down to the Gunnison River. Red Rock Canyon is most commonly visited by anglers keen to fish the Gold Medal waters there. Hikers and backpackers may be attracted to the inner canyon access, which is remote and challenging, but slightly easier than some of the scrambling routes in the National Park.

Explore Red Rock Canyon

The North Rim

From Highway 92 three miles south of Crawford, drive west on Black Canyon Road to access the North Rim of the Black Canyon. There are several hikes and scrambling routes in this part of the canyon. There is also one campground. Roads on the North Rim are not maintained in winter.

Explore the North Rim

Other public lands near the Black Canyon

Black Canyon National Park is surrounded by millions of acres of other public lands. Its neighbor to the east is Curecanti Recreation Area, which encompasses Blue Mesa Reservoir. Curecanti also boasts some incredible canyon views, hiking and fishing. Also to the east of Black Canyon lies a large swath of Gunnison National Forest, including the West Elk Wilderness. This wild area is beloved by backpackers and hunters. Farther towards Gunnison is Hartman Rocks, where mountain bikers can ride nearly 50 miles of technical, high-desert MTB trails. Anglers who enjoy the gold medal trout fishing in the Black Canyon might want to explore Taylor Canyon and Taylor Park, which are also home to gold medal waters.